Whirlwind cover art

Whirlwind

The Air War Against Japan, 1942-1945

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Whirlwind

By: Barrett Tillman
Narrated by: Mel Foster
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About this listen

Whirlwind is the only book to examine in depth the human drama behind the most important bombing campaign in history. While the air war against Nazi Germany has been covered in-depth by many books, Barrett Tillman, a renowned authority on military aircraft and the air war in the Pacific, is the first to tackle the air war against Japan.

For decades, historians and politicians have debated whether or not Japan was on the verge of surrender in August 1945 - before the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Tillman argues that for all the widespread death and suffering, the bombing of Japan remains a great example of air power's ability to end a long, bitter, and bloody war without invasion.

Writing from the perspective of the aircrews and the generals and admirals who commanded them, Tillman examines all aspects of the human drama of the war, combining historical analyses with the words of survivors from both sides of the bomb.

©2009 Barrett Tillman (P)2010 Tantor
Air Forces Japan Military United States World War US Air Force Submarine

Critic Reviews

“A blow-by-blow history of the Allied air offensive against Japan during World War II.... Tightly focused, sure-footed military history.” ( Kirkus Reviews)

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Excellent Book

While I was expecting a more detailed assessment of the use of air power against Japan in the Pacific, such as in the notable carrier battles, this book is specifically focussed on operations against the home islands. Nevertheless, it is a brief and insightful read. The book is primarily informational, but the author does draw some conclusions of his own (which are all backed up by facts).

I would have preferred the book was longer, as operations against many Japanese cities are not detailed individually, but all of the key themes regarding strategic bombing in Japan(technical, military, political, moral, historical) and their effects are detailed in an engaging and readable way.

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Punished!

Those flyers were so brave...you can imagine the frustration. An incredibly interesting account of a demanding air war. Interesting to review from our modern perspective. It’s hard to believe that from the Japanese leadership down to the POW camps guards - that they got off so lightly...

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